Lewis guides Lubbock Symphony Orchestra to brilliant performance

Published: Saturday, November 04, 2000

WILLIAM KERNSA-J Entertainment Editor

Music director/conductor searches sometimes can be such a pain, if only because I find myself eavesdropping and hear patrons discussing the enthusiasm of a guest conductor during a particular passage or questioning whether the sweep of an arm might be quote-distracting-end quote when the bottom line may owe more to a decision made during a rehearsal.

Friday's concert by the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra was alternately thrilling and haunting, and gorgeously played throughout. No doubt the extended standing ovation that arrived as the concert ended was an expression of appreciation for the ensemble's achievement.

And yes, guest conductor Gary Lewis made sure to point out efforts by oboist Janeen Holmes Gilliam and associate concertmaster Stephanie Bland, then asked the entire orchestra to stand and bask in the embrace of applause.

On the other hand, each concert during the 2000-2001 season also is an individual reflection of separate guiding hands. In a pre-concert interview, Lewis stated that his conducting style is geared only to "facilitate that musicians play together."

Well, give him credit for that even if he humbly makes his role sound minimal.

This truly was an evening when conductor and musicians were on the same page. The orchestra performed beautifully.

It nailed Dvorak's Symphony No. 9, Beethoven's Leonora Overture No. 3, and provided luscious support even as guest cellist Alexander Ezerman found every ounce of emotion and drama within Elgar's Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra.

Yet one simply cannot ignore the fact that such a truly memorable concert which will be repeated at 8 p.m. today at the Civic Center Theatre placed Lewis under the microscope.

As good as the orchestra sounded, that's how good Lewis' chances should be, at least at this early point in the 2000-2001 conductor search.

This 38-year-old music director has made his mark primarily in the world of academia, making upward career moves from the University of Michigan to Ohio State University and finally bringing his family back to Lubbock, where he has built support for orchestral and opera music programs at Texas Tech's School of Music.

Yet he was smooth while conducting a larger, professional orchestra Friday. Never mind that some musicians are academic colleagues; Lewis proved comfortable, knowledgable and able.

True, this weekend's is a familiar program, with the possible exception of Ezerman's choice, which was performed with such fascinating aplomb that one can't be blamed for assuming it is the cellist's favorite.

But the presentation of the Dvorak was the perfect closer, beginning with its familiar adagio, with themes introduced in powerful and exciting manner, and moving on to the luscious and just as familiar second movement heavenly when played well. Be assured it was played exquisitely Friday.

Later movements would also reveal series of notes that no doubt inspired composers of film scores and nursery rhymes.

But those dramatic and sweet themes also would return, at one point shared by Bland and assistant concertmaster Eric Fried as they repeatedly played, paused, played, paused and played again, as though reading one another's minds before the rest of the string section arrived to lend even more emphasis.

Such musical splendor is expected after ensemble-conductor relationships have had time to bloom. That makes Friday's concert that much more special.

William Kerns can be contacted at wkerns@lubbockonline.com or 766-8712.